Results 821-840 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: For the record, will the Minister of State list the range of disabilities under the scheme? Does it only extend to physical disabilities or does it include intellectual disabilities?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: In such a case as described by the Senator is the revenue recouped by the State?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The fact that the wording stipulates "under 25 years and in full-time education" is too restrictive. If the expression was "under 25 years or in full-time education" it would give a little more room. Let us build on Senator Quinn's point. Not everyone is ready for college after they complete the leaving certificate. Some wait until they are mature students and some have a ten-year...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Yes, but does the Minister of State understand me? Let us get it right now. Let us do the law right. If the matter were tested in a court, what would count is what is in statute. Let us rethink it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I believe this is way too restrictive a measure. If we think about it, the capital acquisitions tax exemption would apply unless someone was under 25 and in full-time education, which is very restrictive. Arguably, people who are under 25 and not in full-time education, and who are perhaps unemployed, could be at risk of poverty without this family support. At the moment approximately 12%...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I did not hear what the Minister of State said about what is possible. I understand the point on it being an anti-fraud measure and about VAT. Does one person have to take on the burden of everybody, even though some of the partners may have disappeared? I thought the Minister mentioned something which may have given some hope, but I could not quite hear him.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This might be an opportunity for the Minister of State to clarify the taxation of farmers. The section refers to relief for certain leases of farm land. An issue in the west of Ireland was that the threshold of inheritance for part-time farmers was to be reduced to €225,000, but I understand substantial progress was made in regard to the measure in the Dáil. It included relief...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. The removal of the stamp duty on long leases is very welcome. I wanted one clarification. The section refers to farmers who are spending not less than 50% of their time farming. Many farmers work 90 hours per week, and half of that would be 45 hours. A PAYE worker might work a 39 hour week. I understand agreement on farmers working...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister of State has still not clarified the number of hours involved. I understand it is 20, but I want clarification on that. I understand the green certificate and the window of time to obtain it, but I am concerned about the number of hours a farmer must be working on a farm to qualify for the conditions.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have heard what the Minister of State has had to say and generally tend to agree with much of what Senator Feargal Quinn said, but perhaps we differ on this point. The product matters. I note Senator Feargal Quinn's point about the food and meat business, but that is radically different from an addictive product such as gambling. It is fine to say we are all adults who can make our own...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This section relates to joint and several liability for tax. Perhaps the Minister of State might talk me through it because it is becoming a big issue for people in debt with partners. Prior to the cycle of boom and bust, two people could have formed a partnership, taken out a loan and been joint and severally liable for tax for this purpose. Now, if one partner leaves the country, it is...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I appreciate that the real competition is online, but I am open to what Senator Cummins has said. It is extraordinary to have a betting shop open at 7 a.m. I am thinking of the staff but also of the effect on the punter who is likely to be part of a family. If the punter has children he or she should be getting out for school in the morning, I would hate to think that he or she would be in...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I missed section 20 as the Acting Chairman went through the sections so fast. Is it appropriate to speak at the end of this section on it?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What about when we come to the end of the section?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: You were going at such speed that I missed it.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like to receive a clarification on farmer taxation. Great progress was made on it in the Dáil and if the Minister of State would clarify that, it would be useful for the House.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister of State has the information. It is simply that the sections went past in quick succession and when I wondered about the section, it had been dealt with.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It would be good to put in on the record of the House.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Okay.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We have had mini-budgets before. Fianna Fáil did it in the last Government to crease the people.